Turret assembly

Abstract

A web winding apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus include a turret assembly, a core loading apparatus, and a core stripping apparatus. The turret assembly supports rotatably driven mandrels for engaging hollow cores upon which a paper web is wound. Each mandrel is driven in a closed mandrel path, which can be non-circular. The core loading apparatus conveys cores onto the mandrels during movement of the mandrels along the core loading segment of the closed mandrel path, and the core stripping apparatus removes each web wound core from its respective mandrel during movement of the mandrel along the core stripping segment of the closed mandrel path. The turret assembly can be rotated continuously, and the sheet count per wound log can be changed as the turret assembly is rotating. The apparatus can also include a mandrel having a deformable core engaging member.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A web winding apparatus comprising: a turret winder having a rotatably driven turret assembly supported for rotation about a turret assembly central axis, the turret assembly supporting a plurality of rotatably driven mandrels for engaging cores upon which a paper web is wound, each mandrel extending from a first mandrel end to a second mandrel end and having a mandrel axis generally parallel to the turret assembly central axis, each mandrel supported on the turret assembly for independent rotation of the mandrel about its mandrel axis, and each mandrel driven in a closed mandrel path about the turret assembly central axis, the closed mandrel path having a predetermined core loading segment, a predetermined web winding segment, and a predetermined core stripping segment;   wherein the distance between a mandrel and the turret assembly central axis varies along the core loading segment of the closed mandrel path.   
     
     
       2. The web winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotatable turret assembly comprises a rotating mandrel support for supporting the plurality of mandrels, each mandrel supported on the rotating mandrel support for translation relative to the rotating mandrel support, and each mandrel supported on the mandrel support for rotation of the mandrel about its mandrel axis. 
     
     
       3. The web winding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the web winding apparatus further comprises a mandrel cupping assembly comprising a plurality of cupping arms supported on a rotating cupping arm support, each of the cupping arms having a mandrel cup for releasably engaging an end of a mandrel. 
     
     
       4. The web winding apparatus of claim 3 wherein each cupping arm is supported by the rotating cupping arm support to permit rotation of the cupping arm about a cupping arm pivot axis from a first cupped position to a second uncupped position, and wherein the distance between the cupping arm pivot axis and the turret assembly central axis varies as a function of the position of the cupping arm about the turret assembly central axis. 
     
     
       5. The web winding apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a mandrel guide for positioning the mandrels along the closed path, wherein the rotating mandrel support rotates relative to the mandrel guide. 
     
     
       6. The web winding apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mandrel guide is stationary. 
     
     
       7. The web winding apparatus of claim 5 wherein the mandrel guide comprises replaceable sectors for varying the shape of the closed mandrel path. 
     
     
       8. The web winding apparatus of claim 2 wherein each mandrel is supported for rotation about its mandrel axis on a mandrel bearing support assembly, wherein each mandrel bearing support assembly slidably engages the rotating mandrel support, and wherein each mandrel is supported for rotation by its associated mandrel bearing support assembly along the entire closed mandrel path. 
     
     
       9. The web winding apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mandrel guide has a cam surface corresponding to the closed mandrel path, and wherein each mandrel bearing support assembly has an associated cam follower for engagement with the cam surface of the mandrel guide. 
     
     
       10. The web winding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the cam surface of the mandrel guide comprises non-circular segments. 
     
     
       11. The web winding apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mandrel guide comprises first and second cam surfaces spaced apart from one another along the turret assembly central axis, each of the first and second cam surfaces defining a closed path around the turret assembly central axis; wherein the rotating mandrel support is disposed intermediate the first and second cam surfaces, and wherein each mandrel bearing support assembly has a first cam follower for engaging the first cam surface and a second cam follower for engaging the second cam surface. 
     
     
       12. The web winding apparatus of claim 11 wherein the mandrel guide comprises oppositely facing surfaces spaced apart from one another along the turret assembly central axis, wherein the first and second cam surfaces comprise cam surface grooves disposed in the oppositely facing surfaces, and wherein the rotating mandrel support is disposed intermediate the oppositely facing surfaces of the mandrel guide. 
     
     
       13. The web winding apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the mandrel guide comprises first and second stationary mandrel guide plates, each of the mandrel guide plates extending generally perpendicular to the turret assembly central axis, the first and second mandrel guide plates spaced one from the other on the turret assembly central axis, and the first mandrel guide plate having a first cam surface groove defining a closed path about the turret assembly central axis and the second mandrel guide plate having an opposing second cam surface groove defining a closed path about the turret assembly central axis;   wherein the rotating mandrel support comprises first and second rotating mandrel support plates, the first and second rotating mandrel support plates extending generally perpendicular to the turret assembly central axis and disposed intermediate the first and second mandrel guide plates, the first and second rotating mandrel support plates spaced one from the other on the turret assembly central axis, each of the first and second rotating mandrel support plates having a plurality of elongated slots extending there through; and   wherein each mandrel bearing support assembly has a first cam follower and a second cam follower, the first cam follower extending through an elongated slot in the first rotating mandrel support plate for engagement with the first cam surface groove on the first mandrel guide plate, and the second cam follower extending through an elongated slot in the second rotating mandrel support plate for engagement with the second cam surface groove on the second mandrel guide plate.   
     
     
       14. The web winding apparatus of claim 13 wherein the rotating mandrel support comprises a plurality of cross members extending intermediate, and joined to, the first and second rotating mandrel support plates, each cross member associated with an elongated slot in the first rotating mandrel support and an elongated slot in the second mandrel support; and wherein each mandrel bearing support assembly comprises a mandrel slide plate slidably supported on one of the cross members. 
     
     
       15. A turret assembly for winding a continuous web of material into individual logs, the turret assembly comprising: a rotatably driven rotating mandrel support;   a plurality of mandrels supported on the rotating mandrel support and carried in a closed mandrel path, each mandrel having a first end, a second end, and a mandrel axis, wherein each mandrel is rotatably supported on a corresponding mandrel bearing support along the entire closed mandrel path, and wherein each mandrel bearing support is slidably supported on the rotating mandrel support; and   a mandrel guide for positioning the mandrels along the closed mandrel path, wherein the rotating mandrel support is rotatable relative to the mandrel guide.   
     
     
       16. The turret assembly of claim 15 wherein the distance between a mandrel and the axis of rotation of the rotating mandrel support varies as a function of the position of the mandrel along the closed mandrel path. 
     
     
       17. The turret assembly of claim 16 wherein the mandrel guide comprises a cam surface, and wherein the turret assembly further comprises a cam follower associated with each mandrel bearing support, wherein each cam follower engages the cam surface for positioning the mandrels along the closed mandrel path. 
     
     
       18. The turret assembly of claim 17 wherein the mandrel guide comprises replaceable sectors, each sector having a segment of the full cam surface, and wherein at least some of the sectors can be interchanged to vary the shape of the closed mandrel path. 
     
     
       19. A turret assembly for winding a continuous web of material into individual logs, the turret assembly comprising: a rotatably driven rotating mandrel support;   a plurality of mandrels, each mandrel having a first end and a second end, and each mandrel supported near its first end on the rotating mandrel support and carried in a closed mandrel path, wherein the distance between a mandrel and an axis of rotation of the rotating mandrel support varies as a function of the position of the mandrel along the closed mandrel path; and   a mandrel cupping assembly comprising a plurality of cupping arms supported on a rotating cupping arm support, each of the cupping arms having a mandrel cup for releasably engaging the second end of a mandrel.